Friction-clutch.



No. 776,644. PATBNTBD DEC. 6, 1904. M. R. CONWAY.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2,1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL R. CONW'AY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSICrNOlt TOCONIVAY &

Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A PARTNERSHIP.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,644, dated December6, 1904.

Application filed September 2, I903. Serial No. 171,683. (No model.)

To all wit/mt if; Tit/by concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL R. CONWAY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, and Stateof Ohio, have'invented a certain new and useful Improvement inFriction-Clutches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of my specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in a friction-clutch whereby thepower from the drive-shaft maybe transmitted to the pulley or pulleysloosely mounted thereon, and has for its object the production of asimple and sensitive clutch which may be readily applied and soconstructed that the wear incident to devices of this sort is greatlyreduced and the strain distributed, my purpose being also to produce afriction-clutch which would be rather inexpensive in manufacture.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal I sectional view of myimproved friction-clutch properly assembled and mounted on a driveshaftin connection with a loosely-mounted pulley. Flg. 2 1s a side or endView of Fig.

I with the thimble omitted.

In the specification, like letters of reference will indicate identicalparts in different ligures.

Ais a portion of a shaft on which is loosely mounted the pulley B.

C is a sleeve or bush which lits on the shaft A and into the hub b ofthe pulley B. This sleeve or bush is so constructed as to leave a Ichamber 0 between the inner circumference of the hub 7) of the pulleyand the sleeve '01 bush, which chamber is to, be used as an oilreservoir or chamber, so that the various revoluble parts may besufliciently lubricated at all times. The sleeve or bush C is providedwith one or more apertures, into which may preferably be driven woodenplugs c e, which will enable the oil to work through to the shaft A,thus providing automatic lubrication for these parts. Of course it willbe understood that the hub b may be provided with an openingtherethrough at a point above the chamber 0 to permit of thereplenishing of this chamber 0 with oil from time to time, the openingbeing of course provided with a screw-plug or some means for preventingthe escape of the oil from the chamber 0. This plug or opening should beplaced on the opposite side of the hub 7) from that on which my improvedclutch is adapted to engage. It has been found that when the shaft, withthe pulley, is rapidly revolved any oil that might be in the chamber 0,especially if but a small quantity is in the chamber, by centrifugalforce will be thrown against the upper wall of the chamber, and for thisreason I have found it desirable to have plugs e e, which may be of woodor any other porous material, extend sufficiently up into theoil-chamber so as to be at all times in contact with the oil in thechamber.

Secured to the shaft A at a point adjacent the pulley Bis acarrier I),which is preferably constructed with extensions (Z (Z and (Z d and d,the projections (Z d and (Z (2 being provided with lugs d, extending atright angles thereto. The carrier I) is drawn together and tightly heldon the shaft A by means of the bolt f, (see Fig. 1,) thus making thecarrier 1) to revolve with the shaft. The extension al on the carrier 1)is provided with a slotway 1, as is seen in Fig. 2.

E is a friction-band which is adapted to take over the hub b of thepulley,the frictionband being provided with ears e 6 (see Fig. I) andear (1". (See Fig. 2.)

F is a lever which has its bearings in the cars a c of the friction-bandE and takes through the slotway g in the extension (1 of the carrier I).The ear 6 of the frictionband forms a thrust-bearing for the key orlatch h, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2, the key or latch being retainedin place by a nut screwed. on its end, as indicated. The lever F isprovided with a slot or cut-out portion f, (see Fig. 1,) so that thelever F may take into and have operative contact with the key or latcha, which is provided with the hook end it. It will be seen that bylifting the free end of the lever F the sharp edge or wall of the slottherein will bear against the hook l By constructing the extension CZ asshown.

end 72 of the latch b and compel the ears 0' and a to be drawn together,and thus reduce the circumference of the band E. The friction-band Ebeing loosely mounted on the hub of the pulley, its entire innercircumference is brought into contact with the hub, and thus undue wearor friction at any one point, as is true with theconstructionsheretofore used, is obviated. Mounted on the shaft A and adjacent the carrier D is what may a termed a thimble H, preferably of theconstruction illustrated in the drawings, the thimble being providedwith conical ends 7t and a central groove it", into which groove fitsthe yoke h, whereby the shifting bar or lever is secured to the thimble.The conical ends lb of the thimbleH are extended and so constructed topass freely over the hub of the carrier D, thus also economizingshifting space on the shaft. The friction-band E is also provided with alug j, which is adapted to fit between the lugs d d' on the projections(Z of the carrier D, as may be seen in Fig. 1.

The operation of my improved frictionclutch is as follows: By means of ashifting bar or lever the thimble H is moved toward the carrier D, whichlatter is securely clamped to the drive-shaft A, the conical ends 72/ ofthe thimble fitting over the hub 7a of the carrier. The conical ends ofthe thimble H come into contact with the lever F, and the free end ofthe latter is pressed outward and away from the carrier D and made toride on the top of the thimble H, the free end of the lever F preferablybeing bent, as illustrated, to form a heel which is adapted to ride onthe thimble H when the thimble is thrown over against the carrier D. Bythrowing the thimble H toward the carrierD and raising the free or heelend of the lever F the lever F is oscillated and the wall of the slot fmade to engage with the hook end of the key or latch h, thereby drawingthe ends of the friction.- band A together, and thus making the surfacesof the hub b of the pulley B and the inner circumference of thefriction-band E to contact, and the pulley B is made to move with theshaft A by reason of the fact that the lever F passes through the slotin the projections d on the carrier D, which latter is securely keyed tothe shaft.

I prefer to construct the lever F in the manner shown in the drawingswith a round body and bent so as to have the free or heel end thereof tolie in the path of the thimble H, the object of my construction of leverbeing to take the side thrust given by the thimble H away from thebearing in the ears e c.

It is apparent by constructing the key or latch 71 and the lever F asshown and described that any wear, should there be any, can be readilytaken up, and the parts can also be quickly taken apart for the purposeof repair and the like.

having the slot g, through which the lever F passes, it will be seenthat the upthrust to which the lever is subject will be taken care of bythe extension d and the strain taken from the ears 0'. By having thecarrier D securely clamped to the shaft A at the point indicated in thedrawings it will be seen that it will also act as a collar for thepulley B, holding the same in position. Of course the friction-band E isbored a little larger than the hub 7), so that it will not contacttherewith when at rest, and a suflicient opening is also left betweenthe ends of the friction-band E to allow the same to contact with thesurface of the hub 6 of the pulley B and also to allow for wear. Thearms or extensions (Z (Z and (Z d, with their lugs CZ, clasp thefrictionband E and tend to hold it concentrically and away from the hubI) of the pulley B, and thus prevent any unnecessary wear, as would bethe case should the friction-band be allowed to loosely ride or come incontact with the hub b.

The advantages of my improvement are apparent, and it is also possibleto slightly modify the construction shown and described without gettingaway from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be understoodas limiting myself to the exact construction herein described; but

\Vhat I do claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a member looselyrotating thereon, a friction-band, means intermediate of andcontrollably connecting the ends of said band whereby they are drawntogether, a carrier secured to said shaft adjacent the loosely-rotatingmember and the friction-band, a lever whose one end takes through saidcarrier and through a portion of said band and is operatively connectedwith the means intermediate of the ends of said band, mechanism slidablymounted on said shaft at a point adjacent the carrier, and means wherebysaid slidablymounted mechanism is slid into contact with said lever,substantially as shown and in the manner described.

2. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a loosely-rotating membermounted on ashaft, in combination with a split band adapted to encirclea portion of said loosely-rotating member, a carrier rigidly secured tosaid shaft adjacent the loosely-rotating member and said split band, anangular lever adapted to take through said carrier and be connected withone end of said split band, mechanism slidably mounted on the shaftadjacent the carrier and adapted to contact with the free end of saidlever, mechanism intermediate of the said lever and the other end ofsaid split band whereby the action of the lever is transmitted to theends of said split band, and means whereby the slidably-mountedmechanism is shifted into operative contact with said lever,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a loosely-rotating membermounted on a shaft,

in combination with a friction-band provided with ODDOSllJGlY-tllSIJOSBdlugs, means intermediate and controllably connecting the ends of saidband whereby they are drawn together,

a carrier secured to the shaft adjacent the loosely--rotat1ng member andthe frictionband, said carrier provided with extensions so constructedas to hold the friction-band concentrically and normally away from theloosely-rotating member, an angular lever whose one end takes throughsaid carrier and through oppositely-disposed lugs on the friction-bandand has operative connection with said means intermediate of the ends ofsaid band, mechanism slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the carrier,and means whereby said slidably-mounted mechanism is slid into contactwith said lever, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

4. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a loosely-rotating membermounted on a shaft, in combination with a split band adapted to encirclea portion of said loosely-rotating member, a carrier rigidly secured tothe shaft adjacent the loosely-rotating member and said band, saidcarrier so constructed as to hold the friction-band concentrically andnormally away from the loosely-rotating member, an angular lever adaptedto take through said carrier and be connected with the one end of saidsplit band, mechanism slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the carrierand adapted to contact with the free end of said lever, and meansintermediate of said lever and the other end of said split band wherebysaid end of the split band is controlled by the action of the lever, andmechanism whereby the slidablymounted mechanism is thrown into operativecontact with the free end of said angular lever, substantially as shownand for the purpose described.

5. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a member looselyrotating thereon, in combination with a split friction-band providedwith cars, a carrier secured to said shaft adjacent the looselyrotatingmember and the friction-band, an angular lever whose one end takesthrough said carrier and the ears of said friction-band and is adaptedto oscillate,mechanism slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent thecarrier, means whereby said slidablymounted mechanism is thrown intocontact with the free end of said lever, and mechanism connected withthe friction band and adapted to be operated on when said lever isoscillated, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

6. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a member looselyrotating thereon, in combination with the split friction-band pro-'vided with ears 'nearthc ends of said band, a

carrier secured to said shaft adjacent the loosely-rotating member andthe frictionband, an angular lever whose one end takes through saidcarrier and the ears on one end of said split band and adapted tooscillate,

mechanism slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the carrier, means formoving said slidably-mounted mechanism toward the carrier, whereby thelever is oscillated, and mechanism secured to the car on the oppositeend of the said split band and arranged to be operated on by said leverwhen the latter is oscillated, substantially in the manner and for thepurpose described.

7. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a member looselyrotating on said shaft,-in combination with a split band encircling thehub of said member, ears on the ends of said band, an angular leverhaving bearings in the ears on one end of said band, mechanism securedto the car on the other' end of said band and extending to the oppositeend of said band and having operative relation with said lever, acarrier secured to said shaft and taking about said split band, andmeans mounted on said shaft and adapted to be thrown into operativecontact with said lever, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

8. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft having a looselyrotating member thereon, in combination with a split band encircling thehub of said member, ears on the ends of said band, a lever havingbearings in the ears on one end of said band, a latch secured to the caron the other end. of said band and having operative connection with saidlever, a carrier rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent to theloosely-rotating member and split band, lugs on said carrier whereby thesplit band is concentrically held in place, mechanism slidably mountedon the shaft, and means whereby said slidably-mounted mech anism isthrown into operative relation with said lever, substantially in themanner and for the purpose set forth.

9. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a loosely-rotatingmember mounted thereon, in combination with a split band encircling thehub of saidloosely-rotatingmember, said band provided with cars atpoints near its respective ends, a lever whose one end has bearings inthe ears on one end of said band, said lever provided with a notch, alatch adjustably secured to the car on the other end of said band andits free end being in operative relation with the notch in said lever, acarrier rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent the loosely-rotatingmember and split band, said carrier provided with a slot through whichsaid lever extends, and mechanism slidably mounted on said shaft andadapted to be thrown into operative connection with the free end of saidlever, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

10. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft and aloosely-rotating member thereon, in combination with a split bandencircling the hub of said loosely-rotating member, said split bandprovided with ears and lug on its periphery, a carrier rigidly securedto the shaft, said carrier adapted to take about said split band andprovided with lugs between which the lug on the split band takes, alever Whose one end has bearings in the ears on one end of said band, alatch adjustably secured to the ear on the other end of said band andhaving operative relation with said lever, and mechanism slidabl ymounted on said shaft and adapted to contact with the free end of saidlever, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

11. A friction-clutch mechanism compris ing a shaft, a loosely-rotatingmember thereon, in combination with a split band encircling the hub ofsaid loosely-rotating member, said split band provided with ears on theends of said band, two of said ears arranged longitudinally on one endof said band, and another ear arranged transversely on the other end ofsaid band, a carrier rigidly secured to said shaft adjacent theloosely-rotating member and the split band and adapted to take aboutsaid split band, said carrier provided with a slot, a lever havingbearings in the longitudinally-arranged ears on said band and takingthrough the slot in said carrier, mechanism secured to thetransversely-arranged ear and having operative relation with the lever,and mechanism slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be throwninto operative contact with said lever whereby the loosely-rotatingmember is made to revolve with the shaft, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose described. 7

12. A friction-clutch mechanism comprising a shaft and a loosely-mountedmember thereon, a split band encircling the hub of said loosely-mountedmember, ears longitudinally arranged on one end of said band and anothercar transversely arranged on the other end of said band, a carrierrigidly secured to the shaft adjacent the loosely-rotating member andthe split band, said carrier provided With a slotway, a lever extendingthrough the slotway in said carrier and having bearings in thelongitudinally-arranged ears on said split band, a latch adjustablysecured in the transversely-arranged ear and extending into proximity tothe lever, the lever provided With a cut-away portion with which thefree end of said latch is adapted to be brought into contact, mechanismslidably mounted on the shaft and adapted to contact With said lever andbring the latter into operative connection with said latch, incombination with means for controlling said slidably mounted mechanism,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

MICHAEL R. CONWAY.

WVitnesses:

CLEMENS OSKAMP, GEoReE HEIDMAN.

